Mr Thomas Rowan Morrow

Who was Thomas Rowan Morrow?

Thomas Rowan Morrow was a 31 (thirty-one) year-old Irish general labourer who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on April 26, 1880, in Drumlough near Rathfriland, County Down, Ireland, Morrow was a third-class passenger aboard the ill-fated ship, embarking on a journey to join his brother in Canada.

Early Life and Background

A Presbyterian Upbringing

Thomas Morrow was born into a Presbyterian household of Scots-Irish descent. His parents, Waddell Morrow (born 1834) and Anne Rowan (born 1846), were farmers who married on June 22, 1877. Thomas was one of five siblings:

George (born October 5, 1878)
Susanna (born February 19, 1882)
Waddell Dickson (born May 14, 1884)
Sarah (born August 10, 1886)

Political and Religious Affiliations

The Morrow family was known for their:

Strong British Unionist stance
Opposition to Irish Home Rule
Membership in the Loyal Orange Orders

Thomas himself was a prominent Orangeman, having once served as a Worshipful Master within Drumlough Loyal Orange Lodge 153.

Early Career and Family Life

Following his father’s sudden death on November 17, 1892, Thomas took on significant responsibilities:

Appeared as head of household in the 1901 Irish census
Lived at 15 Downpatrick Street, Rathfriland
Worked as an unmarried grocer

By the 1911 census, Thomas had returned to farming, living with his widowed mother and unmarried sister Sarah at house 28 in Drumlough, Rathfriland.

The Titanic Journey

Why did Thomas Morrow board the Titanic?

Thomas decided to embark on the Titanic to join his brother Waddell in Canada. Waddell had previously emigrated and was reportedly working as a rancher near Gleichen, Alberta.

Titanic Boarding Details

Class: Third Class
Ticket Number: 372622
Fare: £7 15s
Port of Embarkation: Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland

A Unique Passenger Among His Countrymen

As noted by Senan Molony in “The Irish Aboard Titanic,” Morrow’s background set him apart from many of his fellow third-class Irish passengers:

Morrow would have cut a lonely figure among his fellow countrymen also travelling third class at the time, an overwhelmingly Irish Roman Catholic group who favoured Irish Home Rule and at a time when bitter sectarian tensions were on the rise in Ireland in the run-up to the Home Rule Bill being passed.

Fate During the Disaster

Tragically, Thomas Rowan Morrow did not survive the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. He was 31 (thirty-one) years old at the time of his death. His body, if recovered, was never identified, leaving his family without closure.

Legacy and Remembrance

Impact on Family

Thomas’s mother remained in Drumlough but fell ill shortly after his death, becoming paralyzed (possibly from a stroke) and passing away on December 27, 1914.
His brother Waddell continued his life in Canada, marrying an Irish woman named Isabella and having two sons, Rowan (born 1910) and William (born 1915).

Commemorations

To honor Thomas Morrow’s memory and mark the centenary of the Titanic disaster, the Drumlough Loyal Orange Lodge commissioned a special bannerette in his name.

What became of the Morrow family?

While Thomas’s life was cut short, his family’s story continued:

Waddell Morrow (brother):
- Settled in Calgary, Canada
- Worked on the railways, repairing trains
- Died on June 11, 1949
- Buried in St Mary’s Cemetery, Calgary

Thomas Rowan Morrow’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the diverse backgrounds of Titanic’s third-class passengers, each with their own hopes, dreams, and reasons for embarking on that fateful voyage.